August 2013 Issue of Concordia News
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Concordia News – Large Print August 2013 A newsletter for members, families, Volume 8 and friends of Number 8 Concordia Lutheran Church and Concordia Cemetery Association ISSN 2152-3339 Contents Page Words from Pastor Bruce ………………. 2 Announcements …………………………….. 7 Obituary: Gordon Swanson ……………. 9 With Our Thanks …….……………………… 11 Recipe of the Month ………………………. 13 Bits and Pieces ………………………………. 14 Dates to Remember …..………….………. 18 Acknowledgements ……………………….. 19 From Pastor Bruce Dear Members and Friends of Concordia Lutheran: Here is the final portion of the excellent summary about Pentecost from the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. It is evident that the phrase “out of sight is out of mind” applies to the longest season of the church year, but then Martin Luther did refer that the Holy Spirit, which is the centerpiece of the season of Pentecost, is the “bashful member of the Trinity”, nonetheless, as the Holy Spirit is the ongoing presence of God in the world, it is important that we do not forget about the Spirit. We are not in this life alone; God is with us: The Lutheran church of the Baroque observed three days of Pentecost. Some composers wrote sacred cantatas to be performed in the church services of these days. Johann Sebastian Bach composed several cantatas for days of Pentecost, including Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten ! BWV 172 in 1714 and Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt , BWV 68 in 1725. Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel 2 From Pastor Bruce wrote cantatas such as Werdet voll Geistes (Get full of spirit) in 1737. Mozart composed an antiphon Veni Sancte Spiritus in 1768. Olivier Messiaen composed an organ mass Messe de la Pentecôte in 1949/50. In 1964 Fritz Werner wrote an oratorio for Pentecost Veni, sancte spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) on the sequence Veni sancte spiritus, and Jani Christou wrote Tongues of Fire , a Pentecost oratorio. Richard Hillert wrote a Motet for the Day of Pentecost for choir, vibraphone, and prepared electronic tape in 1969. Violeta Dinescu composed Pfingstoratorium , an oratorio for Pentecost for five soloists, mixed chorus and small orchestra in 1993. Customs and traditions In Italy it was customary to scatter rose petals from the ceiling of the churches to recall the miracle of the fiery tongues; hence in Sicily and elsewhere in Italy Whitsunday is called Pasqua rosatum . The Italian name Pasqua rossa comes from the red colours of the vestments used on Whitsunday. In France it was customary to blow trumpets during Divine service, to recall the sound of the mighty wind which accompanied the Descent of the Holy Spirit. In the north west of England, church and chapel parades called Whit Walks take place at Whitsun (sometimes on Whit Friday, the 3 From Pastor Bruce Friday after Whitsun). Typically, the parades contain brass bands and choirs; girls attending are dressed in white. Traditionally, Whit Fairs (sometimes called Whitsun Ales) took place. Other customs such as morris dancing and cheese rolling are also associated with Whitsun. Public holiday Since Pentecost itself is on a Sunday, it is automatically a public holiday in Christian countries. Additional restrictions to Sunday opening hours may apply. Pentecost Monday is a public holiday in many European countries including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania (since 2008), (most parts of) Switzerland, Ukraine and also in the African nations Senegal, Benin and Togo. In Sweden it was also a public holiday, but Pentecost Monday (Annandag Pingst ) was replaced by Swedish National Day on June 6, by a government decision on December 15, 2004. In Italy and Malta, it is no longer a public holiday. It was a public holiday in Ireland until 1973, when it was replaced by Early Summer Holiday on the first Monday in June. In the United Kingdom the day is known 4 From Pastor Bruce as Whit Monday, and was a bank holiday until 1967 when it was replaced by the Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday in May. Literary references According to legend, King Arthur always gathered all his knights at the round table for a feast and a quest on Pentecost: So ever the king had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost in especial, afore other feasts in the year, he would not go that day to meat until he had heard or seen of a great marvel . German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe declared Pentecost “das liebliche Fest ” – the lovely Feast, in a selection by the same name in his Reineke Fuchs. “Pfingsten, das liebliche Fest ”, speaks of Pentecost as a time of greening and blooming in fields, woods, hills, mountains, bushes and hedges, of birds singing new songs, meadows sprouting fragrant flowers, and of festive sunshine gleaming from the skies and coloring the earth - iconic lines idealizing the Pentecost holidays in the German-speaking lands. Further, Goethe records an old peasant proverb relating to Pentecost in his “Sankt-Rochus-Fest zu Bingen ” – Ripe strawberries at Pentecost mean a good wine crop. Alexandre Dumas, père mentions of Pentecost in Twenty Years After (French: Vingt ans après), the sequel to The Three Musketeers. 5 From Pastor Bruce A meal is planned for the holiday, to which La Ramée, second in command of the prison, is invited, and by which contrivance, the Duke is able to escape. He speaks sarcastically of the festival to his jailor, foreshadowing his escape : “Now, what has Pentecost to do with me? Do you fear, say, that the Holy Ghost may come down in the form of fiery tongues and open the gates of my prison?” William Shakespeare mentions Pentecost in a line from Romeo and Juliet Act 1, Scene V. At the ball at his home, Capulet speaks in refuting an overestimate of the time elapsed since he last danced: “What, man? ‘Tis not so much, ‘tis not so much! ‘Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio, Come Pentecost as quickly as it will, Some five-and- twenty years, and then we mask’d.” Pastor Bruce 6 Announcements and Assignments Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Time: 1:30 p.m. Place: Fryn’ Pan Coffee and Cookie Servers August September August 4 Phylis Nelson September 1 Becky Jegtvig August 11 Barb Grover September 8 Polly Hanson August 18 Orpha Hoelstad September 15 Sylvia Teigen August 25 Delores Hagene September 22 Doris Kassenborg September 29 Linda Koester If you know of someone who is in the hospital or would like a home visit please let me know. I can be reached at 218-329-2245. Thank you! Pastor Bruce 7 Announcements and Assignments Concordianews.org The topic for Kids Corner in August is “Let My People Go!” Kids Corner is located in the congregation section of the website. In August of 79 A. D. Mount Vesuvius erupted. About half of the inhabitants of Pompeii escaped to the sea, but over 2,000 people were killed and buried under seven feet of lava, ash, and pumice. Sunday, August 4 th is National Friendship Day Friendship day was originally introduced as a marketing ploy by Hallmark. However, in 1935 (in part as an antidote to the wretched conditions brought on by the Depression) Congress gave it official status. In 2011 the United Nations declared Friendship Day an international holiday with Winnie the Pooh as its official ambassador. 8 Announcements and Assignments Gordon Dennis Swanson 1941-2013 Gordon died unexpectedly from a heart attack on Sunday July, 21, 2013. Gordon was born on August 9, 1941 at St Ansgar Hospital, Moorhead, MN to Sigfred (Sig) and Ella (Orud) Swanson. He was baptized in Salem Lutheran Church, Wolverton, MN and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church rural Glyndon. He graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College School in 1960 and NDSCS in 1962 with a degree in accounting. He married Claryce Nater and they had three children. In 1989, Gordy married Loretta (Hall Tripp) Swanson. Gordy worked for several farming related businesses located in Ashby, Warren, and Moorhead, MN. He spent 41 years as office manager/accountant with Rick Electric, and realized one of his dreams on an all expense paid trip to Australia/New Zealand they gave him as a retirement gift. Gordy loved accounting and continued some part time work from home for the station his son Denny manages and was also doing the accounting for the LCMS-North Dakota District. Gordy and two of his buddies started ECG Fishing Trips and had just returned from a 9 Announcements and Assignments wonderful fly in fishing trip to Canada. Gordon was a very active Grandpa and could be found at all of their sports and school activites, he never missed them. He was very proud of all his children and grandchildren. He was very involved with church activities and was always available to lend a helping hand or ear to anyone who needed it. He built many lasting relationships through participation and study of God’s word. Gordon is survived by his wife Loretta, his mother: Ella Swanson, Moorhead, children: Dennis (Patty) Moorhead, MN, LeAnn Jaksha, Duluth, Joel, East Bethel, MN. Stepdaughters: Shanna (Wayne) McArthur, Moorhead, Heather Burns (fiance’, Todd Persinger), Bradenton, Fl, Nichole (Jim) Anderson, Sioux Falls, SD, siblings: Lenny (Vonnie) Fargo, Sharon (Bill) Lipp, Audubon, MN. Father in law: Eugene Hall, Jamestown, ND. Grandchildren: Paul (Kelsey), Ray, Wyatt Swanson, Jordan and Jessica Jaksha, Justin (Callie) Schiermeister, Paige and Lydia McArthur, PJ, Kallie and Emilie Burns. Great Grandchildren: Sophie and Haylee Swanson, and Khloe Schiermeister. He was preceded in death by his father Sigfred (Sig) and grandson, Brett McArthur. The celebration of his life was held July 25 th at Trinity Lutheran in Moorhead. Interment is in Concordia’s cemetery. 10 With Our Thanks Concordia Cemetery Fund In Memory of Glenn Kassenborg Kim & Rich Ulven In Memory of Robert Burke Alvina Burke In Memory of Alton Mjolsness Family of Alton Mjolsness Ann Skaug Mike & DeAnn Skaug Nobert Fischer Dan & Bev Mjolsness, Danny & Cindy Mjolsness Andy & Colleen Fischer Thanks to everyone who attended the picnic on Sunday, July 22.